Download Global Environmental Issues: A Case Study on Global Warming

Global Environmental Issues:
A Case Study on Global
Warming
OOOPS
Econ 506
Presented by:
17th May 2005
Amr S Algarhi
Azza A Shafei
Global Environmental Problems




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Global warming
Acid rain
Ozone layer
depletion
Biodiversity loss
Infectious disease
Global Warming
…refers to an increase in average
global temperature, also called:
 Climate
Change
 Greenhouse
Effect
Greenhouse Effect
Solar radiation


some is
reflected by
the earth and
the
atmosphere
some passes
through the
atmosphere
and is
absorbed by
the earth,
warming it
Infrared radiation

Some passes
through the
atmosphere

Some is
absorbed and
re-emitted in all
directions by
greenhouse gas
modules
Causes of Global Warming
GHG - due to Natural and Human Economic Activities
Gases
Source
carbon dioxide (CO2) fossil-fuel burning, de-forestation
methane (CH4)
agriculture activity, decomposition and disposal of
waste
nitrous oxide (N2O)
emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, and
during combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels
hydrofluorocarbons
(HFCs)
industrial activities
perfluorocarbons
(PFCs)
industrial activities
sulphur hexafluoride
(SF6)
industrial activities
Human activities have changed the
composition of the atmosphere since the
pre- industrial era
Characteristics of GHG
 Atmospheric
 Global
life time.
warming potential.
 Atmospheric
concentration.
Greenhouse Gases
 Concentration
 Forecasts
sensitive.
vs. Emissions.
about emissions are very
Qualitative scenarios for different indicators
Scenario
A1F1
A18
A1T
B1
A2
B2
Population
Economy
Environment
Technology
Globalization
Impacts of Global Warming
- physical

Shrinking glaciers & thawing
permafrost

Later freezing and earlier
break up of river and lake ice

Sea level rise

Higher incidence of floods
and droughts in some
regions
Impacts of Global Warming
- biological

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Longer growing seasons
Poleward and altitude shifts of
plants and animal ranges
Decline of some plant and
animal population ( Drive 15 37% of living species toward
extinction by the middle of the
century)
Early tree flowering, emergence
of insects and birds eggs laying
Damage to natural systems
Many of these impacts are
irreversible
Impacts of Global Warming
- human system
Systems at risk include:
 water resources
 Agriculture and forestry
 Coastal zones and
marine systems
 Decreasing water
availability in regions
where water is already
scarce
 Human health and risk of
disease
Game theory
A 2-player pollution abatement game
Y’s strategy
X’s strategy
Pollute
Pollute
Abate
0, 0
5, -2
Abate
-2, 5
3, 3
Toronto Conference (1988)
 Carbon
dioxide targets.
 Carbon
dioxide emissions.
 GHG
control (quantitative incentives rather
than price incentives).
Rio de Janeiro Conference (1992)
 Plans
 No
for controlling emissions.
commitments on:
A particular emissions reduction.
A timetable for any such reduction.
Kyoto Protocol (1997)

Conditions to be in force.

Industrialized nations.

Developing countries.
Kyoto Protocol’s
Flexible Mechanisms
1)
Emissions Trading or “HOT AIR
TRADING”
2)
Joint Implementation (JI)
3)
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
Steps Towards Action on Climate Change
Event
Date and place
Principal achievements
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) - First report
1990
Broad international scientific consensus that human actions are influencing the
climate
UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change
1992, Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil.
(Entered into
force 1994)
Committed the global community to stabilising the level of greenhouse gases in
the atmosphere
1995
Confirmed human influence on climate
IPCC - Second report
Recognised the primary responsibility of industrialised countries, and the
differentiated responsibilities of developing countries
Stated that risk from climate change is severe enough to justify preventive
actions (Governments which have signed the Convention have to accept the
findings of the IPCC).
Conference of Parties (COP) 1
1995, Berlin
Established budget, secretariat and institutional mechanisms
Established pilot phase of "Activities Implemented Jointly" to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions
Agreed timetable for setting specific reduction targets for industrialised countries
Conference of Parties (COP) 2
1996, Geneva
Endorsed IPCC2 and COP1 agreements
US announced its commitment to binding targets "medium-term", with "flexibility,
in implementation measures"
OPEC dropped its opposition to action
Steps Towards Action on Climate Change
Event
Date and place
Principal achievements
Conference of Parties (COP) 3
1997, Kyoto
Agreed the Kyoto Protocol, with targets for industrialised country greenhouse
gas reductions
Conference of Parties (COP) 4
1998, Buenos
Aires
Agreed a "Plan of Action" for following up on the Kyoto Protocol, including
processes for stimulating technology transfer
Conference of Parties (COP) 5
1999, Bonn
Further progress on implementing the Kyoto Protocol
Conference of Parties (COP) 6
2000, The Hague
IPCC - Third report
2000/2001
“Rio plus Ten” Earth Summit
2002
Many people hope the Kyoto Protocol will be ratified and will enter into force by
this the time. [This didn't happen. It DID now come into force February 2005]
Negotiations begin for a second round of
emissions reductions
2005
This is the target date to start negotiations for the second period of the Kyoto
Protocol
Agreed cuts in greenhouse gases
2008-2012
This is the period in which emissions cuts agreed in the Kyoto Protocol have to
be achieved and measured
Global Warming will affect Egypt
Egypt is potentially one of the countries
most at risk from the effects of climate
change.
(1)
water resources
(2)
coastal zones
Recommendation for Global
Warming Abatement
 Increase
the capacity of ‘pools’ that absorb
carbon dioxide and other GHG from the
atmosphere.
 Decrease
the rate of emissions of GHG
(reducing GHG inflows).
Recommendation for Global
Warming Abatement
 stop
using burning fuels and changes in
fuel mix (from fossil to renewable energy)
 use
the new technologies that are now
available, like better filters.
Recommendation for Global
Warming Abatement
 Stabilizing
 power
population growth worldwide.
stations should not be permitted to
discharge warm cooling waters into rivers
and oceans.
Recommendation for Global
Warming Abatement
 Financial
and technological transfers from
developed to developing nations.
 helping
cleanly.
low-income nations develop
Recommendation for Global
Warming Abatement
 learn
and use good ideas and solutions
from other countries that help us
eliminate global warming. For example, a
country that is fighting global warming and
producing less polluting fuels is Brazil.
Instead of gasoline Brazilians use alcohol,
which is made from sugar cane and
cassava. The exhaust fumes from this
alcohol fuel are almost clean enough to
breathe.
THANK YOU